**Benfica host Celtic in a heavyweight Europa League clash**, and the Lisbon giants are quietly rolling — that **1-3 loss to Porto** is the only blip on a four-win streak that includes a statement **2-0 away win vs AC Milan**. 🔴

Celtic are battle-tested but fragile. Three wins in five masks a couple of stingers: **0-1 to Rangers** and a brutal **1-3 home loss to Ferencváros**. The **H2H leans Benfica** (3 wins to 2), and they're at the Estádio da Luz where the crowd turns up.

Key storylines:

- **V. Pavlidis and R. Silva** form a creative spine for Benfica with the attacking trio behind a solid midfield pairing of **J. Palhinha and L. Barreiro**
- **C. McGregor and M. Baur** anchor Celtic's press in the middle, but they'll miss the defensive depth of **A. Johnston** and **C. Carter-Vickers**
- Benfica's recent form edges them — **G. Sudakov and E. Barrenechea** out doesn't help, but the core is humming

Expected lineups:

- **Benfica**: S. Soares, S. Dahl, T. Araújo, C. Lenglet, A. Bah, J. Palhinha, L. Barreiro, A. Schjelderup, R. Silva, G. Prestianni, V. Pavlidis
- **Celtic**: V. Sinisalo, K. Tierney, L. Scales, A. Trusty, C. Donovan, C. McGregor, M. Baur, S. Tounekti, B. Nygren, H. Hassan, C. Durán

Prediction:

**Benfica 2–1 Celtic**. Home advantage, form, and that midfield control tip the scales — but Celtic's grit keeps it tight. ⚪